The “New year, new me” cliché is one we all love because it shares the promise of growth. It’s the new year, so it’s time for those New Year’s Resolutions to create the new “you,” right?
Wrong!
If you want to create real change in your life, it will take more than a resolution. It’s going to take a habit.
What’s the difference?
A habit is something you must consciously practice and learn. A habit promises to make room for growth as well as failures. It promises to allow the grace of trying again until you succeed and turn a consciously learned behavior into an unconscious practice. The best employees are those with constantly revised and efficient work habits.
In 2020, we saw a significant shift in work-life habits when working from home (WFH) became the only option for much of the year. Now, it’s 2022, and WFH is still an option almost everywhere, but it’s time we updated our work-life habits to match the flexible work schedule most of us have adapted to.
Habits That Will Make a Difference
- Embrace Technology
In the architecture world, we spend a lot of time on the computer using different software. When we aren’t using software to get a job done directly, we can still use technology. It is easy to hop online and get distracted, but that can turn into a bad habit fast without proper supervision.
One way to keep the distractions at a minimum is to set timers for yourself. Set the timer for a designated amount of time, and don’t allow yourself to look at anything that isn’t work-related until the timer goes off. Then, you can take a break or take a walk outside and come back and set another focus timer.
This will help you manage your schedule and stay on track.
Talking with clients over video chat is another great way to utilize technology to your benefit, cutting back on time wasted. Video meetings are often more efficient than phone calls anyway, so this is a habit that could make you more money.
- Be Present
Speaking of managing your schedule, sticking to your plan becomes a lot harder if you aren’t present in each moment. When you come to work every day, if all you can think about is everything outside of work, you probably won’t get much done. Also, the work you do accomplish won’t be done to the best of your ability.
The remaining present has a way of slowing your brain down just enough so you can effectively focus on the tasks and people in front of you.
Healthline cites a study suggesting that remaining present can even help you cope with stress levels, thus improving work ethic and physical health as well.
- Set Boundaries and Stick to Them
Whether you WFH or not, setting healthy work life and home life boundaries is another beneficial habit to form in 2022. Revising boundaries is a great habit to get into every new year because it requires you to hold yourself accountable every time you don’t stick to a set boundary.
Setting boundaries keeps you on track with work, keeping you on track at home. Working from home has its perks, but things can get messy when work-life interferes with home life.
This is also where technology can help you a lot. When that final timer of the day goes off, pack up your work physically and mentally and remain present but with your family! Hopefully, these three habits will help you get further in your career without compromising your home life. That’s what makes them so great!
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